Rail-joint



(No Model.)

- R. M. AGEE 8; E. LANE.

RAIL JOINT.

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' PatentedApr. 15, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT 01mins,

REUBEN M. rkGEE AND EDIVARD LANE, OF CANTON, MISSOURI.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,396, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed September 25, 1889. Serial No- 324,987 (No model.)

To 0025 2072 0112 it may concern.-

Be it known that we, REUBEN M. AGEE and EDWARD LANE, citizens of the United States, residing atfianton, in the county of Lewis and State of Missouri, have'invented a new and useful Rail'Joiut, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in rail-joints; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of our improved rail-joint. Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Figs. 3 and 4; are views showing different methods of securing the center of the rail.

In carrying out ourinventiou we secure the rails A to the ties B in the usual manner, and between the ends of the rails we arrange the blocks or short rails O, as shown. To these blocks 0 we secure the fisl1-plates D, which extend along the sides of the rails and fit closely againstthe same and are provided with longitudinal slots E, through which and the ends of the rails bolts F are inserted to secure the said plates to the rails and also permit the rails to expand and contract. The plates D and the blocks 0 are secured permanently on the ties by spikes driven downward through the flanges of the plates and the blocks and into the ties, as clearly shown. By this arrangement the block will be secured rigidly in place and be prevented from moving out of position by the action of heat and cold, and instead of a single largeopening when the rails contract we secure two small openings, thus reducing the unevenness of the track and the consequent wear of the parts.

In order that the rails may be caused to expand and contract equally at both ends, we secure the said rails permanently to the ties at the center of the rail by passing a spike G downward through a notch or opening in the flange of the rail into the tie, thus preventing movement of the rail at the center of the same. e may, however, instead of this spike secure the center of the rail by employing a lug oncleat H on the under side of the rail and engaging the same in a recess I in the tie, as will be readily understood, This lug and recess may be of any desired form, and in Figs. 3 and at we have illustrated two different forms of the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that we have provided a railjoint in which the rails will be caused to contract and expand equally at both ends and the wear on the ends of the rails thus rendered uniform. It will be seen that the block 0 is long enough to span two ties, the ends of the block each resting on a tie.-

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. In a rail-joint, the con1bination, with the ends of two rails AA, arranged at a consider able distance apart and being centrally secured to ties, the block or short rail 0, rigidly secured to ties, and the fish-plates rigidly secured to the block or short rail and loosely connected to the rails A A and allowing the rails limited longitudinal movement, substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination, with the ends of two adjacent rails permanently secured to the ties, the ends of thera'ils being separated by a space which is equal to the distance between two ties, of the block 0, arranged in this space between the ends of the rails and spanning both ties, and the fishplate secured rigidly to the block and extending along the sides of the adjacent rail ends and loosely connected thereto, as set forth. I

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures 85 in presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN M. AGEE. EDWARD LANE. \Vitnesscs:

' LEANDER T. HENDRICKS,

GEO. \V. MAROHAND. 

